Technology education growing in schools

Friday

Aug 16, 2013 at 11:00 AMAug 16, 2013 at 11:14 AM

The Rolla Board of Education has authorized significant investment in the digital learning initiative, which is the use of technology in the classrooms, and district Technology Director Ginger King reminded the board why Aug. 8.

R.D. Hohenfeldt

The Rolla Board of Education has authorized significant investment in the digital learning initiative, which is the use of technology in the classrooms, and district Technology Director Ginger King reminded the board why Aug. 8.“Why we’re doing all this,” King said, showing a slide with these words: learning, preparing, engaging, creating, achieving and assessing.This is a different world than the one in which students learned to do calculations with slide rules, typed on manual typewriters and did research in the library using books.Nowadays, much calculation, message-sending and research can all be done on personal devices, which include what many people think are just telephones.The personal devices, including smartphones, will be used more often this school year as the program that piloted last year with carts laden with laptops and notebook computers were eagerly used by students.Personal devices will be brought into the buildings for approved use this year by staff members and Rolla High School students.King noted the district spent $1,116,759 in 2012 on digital learning and $1,072,419 in 2013. Another $926,400 has been budgeted for this school year.There have been significant improvements in the “wi-fi” infrastructure.Along with that, there has been growth in the training of teachers.King noted that in the 2012-2013 school year, a training session was open to eight members, three middle school fifth-grade teachers and five high school teachers.The offering for staff training in 2013-2014 has expanded. Six of the teachers from last school year will return (two of the originals moved).Moreover, another “academy” will be opened to 30 members and a focus group will be opened up to 50 members. These training opportunities will be attended by select teachers from throughout the buildings, including the technical center.King said seven new laptop carts will be available in the buildings in September for student use.

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